Happy Thanksgiving, Canada! Have you thanked your employees yet?

Employee engagement has gotten a lot of attention in recent years, as research repeatedly shows the link between engaged employees and high-performing organizations. However, the same body of research shows that many organizations believe they have far too many disengaged staff members. This is unfortunate, as the key to employee engagement isn’t much of a mystery.

The power of thank you

Employee engagement requires a people-centric connection between staff members and management, and there is no greater way to improve this connection than with meaningful employee recognition. Regular and sincere use of words and actions that say thank you goes a long way toward demonstrating appreciation for staff members’ efforts, and employees that feel appreciated renew the cycle by working harder.

Consider one dramatic example of showing employees how much they are valued: PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi ensures key employees know just how important they are to the company by writing personal thank-you letters to their parents. Extreme? Maybe—but imagine how proud you would be to hear your parents share such a letter with friends and family during the holidays.

Employee recognition ideas for Canadian Thanksgiving

The upcoming Canadian Thanksgiving holiday makes this a great time of year for thank-you-themed recognition, even if you aren’t quite comfortable writing thank-you notes to your employees’ parents. These employee recognition ideas aren’t complicated or expensive, and all are sure to have a big impact on your staff.

Public praise: When you share positive feedback and sincerely thank staff members in front of their peers, you not only recognize their efforts—you also motivate the rest of the team by setting the bar a little higher.

Gift cards: This token of appreciation is a great way to say thank you. When possible, choose a gift card specifically geared toward the individual’s taste, or give the employee an opportunity to choose his or her own reward for a job well done.

Thank-you notes: A quick note offering specific praise and heartfelt gratitude can go a long way toward showing your appreciation. Remember, this is more than signing your name to a pre-printed card. Add a few words about the recipient’s individual contributions.

The Canadian Thanksgiving holiday is an excellent opportunity to reflect on your team’s achievements and consider whether you have made genuine efforts to show your gratitude for their contributions. These suggestions are time-tested and proven effective for a quick, inexpensive engagement booster.